The kinetics of pollutant removal through biofiltration from stormwater containing airport de-icing agents

Abstract

The present study aimed to determine the kinetics of pollutant removal in biofilters with LECA filling (used as a buffer to prevent de-icing agents from being released into the environment with stormwater runoff). It demonstrated a significant effect of temperature and a C/N ratio on the rate of nitrification, denitrification, and organic compound removal. The nitrification rate was the highest (0.32 mg N/L·h) at 25◦ C and C/N = 0.5, whereas the lowest (0.18 mg N/L·h) at 0◦ C and C/N = 2.5 and 5.0. Though denitrification rate is mainly affected by the available quantity of organic substrate, it actually decreased as the C/N increased and was positively correlated with the temperature levels. Its value was found to be the highest (0.31 mg N/L·h) at 25◦ C and C/N = 0.5, and the lowest (0.18 mg N/L·h) at 0◦ C and C/N = 5.0. As the C/N increased, so did the content of organic compounds in the treated effluent. The lowest organic removal rates were noted for C/N = 0.5, ranging between 11.20 and 18.42 mg COD/L·h at 0 and 25◦ C, respectively. The highest rates, ranging between 27.83 and 59.43 mg COD/L·h, were recorded for C/N = 0.5 at 0 and 25◦ C, respectively.